Package wrapping machines



1953 G.- E. SPRIGGS 2,846,834

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1954 A; In venlor A Home y Aug. 12, 1958 G. E. SPRIGGS PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1954 A Home v Aug. 12, 1958 G. E. SPRIGGS PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1954 tlomey 1953 e. E. SPRIGGS 2,846,834

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINES Filed June 8, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F76] r o United States Patent PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINES George Edward Spriggs, Felstead, England, assignor to British Sugar Corporation Limited, London, England Application June 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,216

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 9, 1953 20 Claims. (Cl. 53-232) This invention relates to package wrapping machines and more particularly to a fully automatic package wrapping machine for folding and preferably also sealing a wrapper about a plurality of articles disposed as a substantially cuboid mass, such as packets of sugar or other foods which are placed in juxtaposition on a table of the machine.

A machine according to the invention is characterised by a vertically displaceable table adapted to receive a wrapping sheet and a group of articles loaded thereon when the table is in its upper position, means serving automatically when the table is lowered to raise front and rear Walls of the wrapper about the articles, and automatic wrapper folding, tucking and sealing means arranged horizontally in relation to a lower position of the partly wrapped articles when supported by the table in its lower position.

A machine as aforesaid may include ram means adapted to fold the upper margin of the front Wall of the wrapping sheet over the top of the group of articlesand to tuck in side portions of said front wall against the sides of the group of articles while displacing the thus partly wrapped package rearwardly off the table. Further means may be disposed to fold the upper margin of the rear wall over the top of the group of articles and to tuck in side portions of said rear Wall against the sides of the group of articles during such rearward displacement. Said further means may be fixed and/or displaceable members under which and past which, respectively, the package is at least partly pushed by the ram.

A machine having such means preferably includes means for effecting automatic retraction of said ram and subsequently automatic raising of the table for reloading.

For convenience of further description the position of a partly wrapped package on the lowered table will be referred to as its first position, and that which it occupies when pushed off the table as its second position while the third, fourth and fifth positions referred to are those to which any one package in passage through the machine is successively displaced by following packages moving from the first position to the second position, and so on.

In the second position each package has at both sides horizontally extending upper and lower triangular or trapezoidal flaps.

Rearwardly of said further tucking means there may be abutment members disposed and adapted to act on a partly wrapped package when moving from its second position to its subsequent positions so as to fold said lower and upper flaps upon the sides of the package in overlapping relationship.

The passage for the packages being wrapped and the means for rear wall folding, rear side tucking and side flap folding may conveniently be located below atable adapted to support a stack of wrapping sheets.

Alternatively, for convenience of access to the several means defining and associated with said passage, a table adapted to support a stack of wrapping sheets may be located over the ram, that is, to the side of the table opposite that from which the packages progress while being wrapped.

Means as aforesaid may be combined with means for automatically applying adhesive at suitable locations tothe wrapping paper, so that, in the course of wrapping, the package is wholly or at least partially secured by adhesive. 7

Thus, means such (and hereinafter for convenience referred to) as a glue roller may be disposed in relation to the upper position of the displaceable table, so that when a wrapping sheet is laid on the table the under side of the transverse margin of its front wall may be laid on said roller and receive glue therefrom. Hence,

when said margin is folded over the top of the articles, its glued side is uppermost, and the folding of the transverse margin of the rear wall down upon it serves to secure said margins together.

Further, in relation to a position of the partly wrapped package subsequent to its second position, there may be disposed means, actuable automatically to apply adhesive to either or both of the horizontally extending side flaps, for the securing of these flaps to the sides of the package. Desirably such means are, and will hereinafter for convenience-be referred to as, glue boxes or drums, actuable to apply adhesive to the upper, potentially inner surface of the lower horizontal flaps.

Advantageously such glue drums may be located to apply glue to the lower horizontal flaps as the partly wrapped package proceeds from the second tothe third position. The glue drums may, for example, be driven through suitable pawl and ratchet gearing by rack and pinion means associated with the ram. Thus, 'a suitably supported rack may extend parallel to the path of the packages along each side of the machine to operate an independent glue drum on that side of the advancing packages. Means may be provided for timing displacement of the racks so that glue-applying pads secured to the glue drums, and shaped to correspond with the triangular or trapezoidal lower flaps projecting from the packages, may be rotated in coincidence with the passing fiaps in order to apply glue accurately thereto. Such pads may be supplied with glue from transfer rollers suitably driven from the glue drum spindles, and dipping into glue baths.

Alternatively, glue boxes may be located to apply glue to the lower horizontal flaps of a package while it is stationary in the third or fourth position, the glue boxes being, for example, perforated bottoms with a permeable lining, as of felt, to control slow discharge of glue from the boxes through the perforations. Such glue boxes may be vertically reciprocable by lever-linkage means operable by the table or the ram or by means moving in timed relation therewith, so that the glue boxes are jointly urged down each upon one of the lower horizontal flaps for gluing it and raised again, during a period when the package is stationary. Preferably, the glue boxes are actuated by the intermediary of levers whereby they are depressed as the table rises and lifted when the table descends so that they are maintained in.

raised position during the operation of the ram and displacement thereby of the succession of packages.

The upward folding of the flaps thus glued may be effected by fixed ploughs each presenting a twisted rising surface to lift the flap upwards to a vertical position and press it upon the outer surface of the upper flap which has already been turned downwards.

However, for facilitating adhesion of the glued flaps the flaps may be lifted by means adapted to apply pressure to their outer surfaces, that is, upon opposite ends of,the now completely wrapped package. For example, two hinged plates may be provided opposite the ends of Patented Aug. 12 1958.

a package in the fourth position, said plates being adapted to be raised about pivotal axes parallel and adjacent to the lower lateral edges of the packages during the period in each cycle when the intermittently advancing series of packages is stationary.

Preferably, the displaceable table and said ram means are hydraulically actuable. Further, the aforesaid means for folding up and pressing upon the ends of the package the glued lower flaps may be actuated by hydraulic ram means, preferably a pair of hydraulic rams disposed at opposite sides of the machine, their piston rods, which are upwardly displaceable by hydraulic pressure, being connected by suitable links to the under and outer sides of said hinged plates. The hydraulic mechanism may be electrically or electromagnetically controlled, preferably automatically. Further, suitable electrical or electromagnetic interlocking means may be provided for ensuring that the table shall not be caused to descend unless properly loaded, that the horizontal ram means shall not be caused to advance until the table has descended to its lower limit position, and that the table shall not rise again until the ram means is fully retracted.

In order that the invention may be better understood, two embodiments of machines including the aforesaid mechanical features, and their modes of operation, will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:

Figure 1A is a partial side elevational view, partly in section, of one embodiment of the invention with inessential structural elements omitted,

Figure 1B is a like view of the balance of Figure 1A,

Figure 2A is a plan view of Figure 1A,

Figure 2B is a plan view of Figure 1B,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, with inessential structural elements omitted,

Figure 4 is a detail view of a gluing drum and its trapezoidal pad,

Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan of the side tucking means,

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on the line VIIVII of Figure 3, and

Figure 8 is an electrical circuit diagram.

The machine as shown in Figures 1A, 113, 2A and 2B comprises a table 1 vertically displaceable between the full and broken line positions of Figure l and mounted on a stem of or connected with a hydraulic ram (not shown) located substantially on the center line of a fixed frame, of which is shown in the drawings one of a pair of upper longitudinal side members 2. A platform 3 (Fig. 1B) suitably supported on the frame members 2 is adapted to receive a stack of wrapping sheets. Forward of the platform 3 is disposed a guide and cover plate 4 mounted on a transverse bar or tube 5. Forwardly again of the table 1 is another horizontal plate 6 mounted as a bridge, level with the table 1, upon a pair of lateral supports 7 of channel section, and a pair of plates 8 thereon which are bent to open Z-section, the width of the plate 6 being less than the width across the frame members 2. The plate 6 also has at one or each side an angle member 9 for locating each wrapping sheet laterally.

Further forward of the plate 6 is disposed a transverse glue roller 10 in a glue bath 11 at the front of which is a wall 12 that constitutes a stop for the front edge of each wrapping sheet.

There is mounted for turning on a transverse spindle 72 a folding plate 13 movable between the positions shown in Fig. 1A. The spindle 72 extends below the sheet locating member 9 and has at its end outside said member a lever 14 articulated by a pin 15 to a link 16, which in turn is articulated by a pin 17 to a bracket 18 on the table 1.

When the table 1 is in its raised position, a wrapping sheet from the top of a stack on the platform 3 may be .m passed over the table, the plates 13 and 6 and the glue roller 10 until its front edge is located by the wall 12 so that the underside of the front margin lies on the roller. The sheet is located laterally by the member 9. The table 1, covered with the wrapping sheet, can now be loaded.

To facilitate the loading, for example, with packets of sugar, positioning means are provided over the table. Such means consists 'of a longitudinal plate 19 having at its forward end a cross member 20 to afford two angles for receiving and locating the corners of packets. The plate 19 is transversely adjustable and is completely independent of the table 1; it is supported on a longitudinally extending arm 21 secured to a bracket 22, which is displaceable across a bridge formed of two spaced bars 23 supported horizontally on a pair of standards 24, the bracket 22 being securable by bolts 25 to hold the plate 19 in any desired position of adjustment.

The plate 19 may conveniently be located in the region of the middle of the table to facilitate loading of the table by two operators, one on each side of the machine.

The table 1 is provided at its front edge with trip means as will hereinafter be described which are so located that they are actuated by the completed load to close switches in series in a circuit of electromagnetic means adapted to operate a hydraulic valve so as to cause the table 1 to descend to the level of a bed plate 26 supported on the upper surface of the frame members 2. In so descending the table brings the group of articles to be wrapped into a first position A of its horizontal rearward passage for commencement of the wrapping and delivery from the machine.

In the descent of the articles on the table to the position A, the front margin of the wrapping sheet is brought off the glue roller 10 and the front portion of said sheet is brought over the rear or pivoted edge of the folding plate 13 to an upright position.

The descent of the table 1 to its lower position also pulls the link 16 to the position 1611 (shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 1) and turns the folding plate 13, by the lever 14, over to the position 13a. This movement of the folding plate displaces the upper portion of the front wall of the wrapping sheet to a position a. At the same time the rear wall of the wrapping sheet is brought to a partly upright position, with its upper portion trailing over the front of the plate 4 in the position b.

On completion of the descent of the table 1 to its lower position further trip means as will hereinafter be described are actuated thereby to close switches in series in the circuit of further electromagnetic means, adapted to operate another hydraulic valve so as to cause a horizontal ram 27 to be advanced. This ram has fixed to its front end a transverse plate 28. On the rear of this plate are secured two yokes 29, 29 and two rods 30, 30 are slidably mounted in holes in the plate 28, the yokes 29 under the influence of spring means 31 urging them rearwardly. At their rear ends the rods 30 carry a moveable transverse plate 32 having at each side, as shown in Figure 2A, a hinged, tucking wing 33. The plate 28 fixed to the arm also has on its rear surface two abutments 34, each aligned with the hinge of one of the tucking wings 33. Further, at the top edge of the plate 32 there is fixed a horizontal folding plate 35 located at a height such that it will pass over the tops of the group of partly wrapped articles in the position A.

As the ram 27 advances, the folding plate 35 first engages over the top of the parcel and moves the upper portion of the front wall of the wrapping sheet from the position a shown in Figure 1A down upon the top of the parcel with the glued side of its transverse margin uppermost. The spring-urged plate 32 then engages the front surface of the parcel and owing to frictional resistance of the parcel (together with that of other parcels if already in the horizontal passage towards the rear of the machine) causes the plate 32 to move rearwardly against the action of the springs 31 until the plate 32 reaches the limit position, for example, in abutment w1th the plate 28. In attaining this limit position, the hinged tucking wings 33 on the plate 32 are engaged by the abutments' 34 and turned rearwardly, so as to tuck 1n laterally extending portions of the vertical front wall of the wrapping sheet in the form indicated at c in the second position B of the parcel, as shown in Figure 1A. When the plate 32 reaches its said limit position, further movement of the ram 27 displaces the parcel from the position A to the position B, and in the course of this displacement the upper portion of the rear wall of the wrapping sheet passes successively under the transverse tube 5 and a resiliently mounted top pressure plate 36, so that said upper portion of the rear wall is brought down to a horizontal position with its transverse margin upon the glued transverse margin of the front wall, thus serving to secure said two margins together across the width of the sheet.

When the ram 27 has thus advanced to displace the parcel to the position B, automatic means as will hereinafter be described; are brought into operation to operate the hydraulic valve, for example, by de-energising the associated electromagnetic means, so as to cause the ram 27 to be retracted to its position as shown in Figures 1A and 2A. Thereafter, further automatic trip means are actuated to operate the hydraulic valve associated with the vertical ram of the table 1 to cause said table to rise again to its upper (solid line) position as shown in Figure 1A, thereby actuating the link 16 to restore the folding plate 13 to its original position.

When the table 1 reaches its upper position, further trip means are actuated automatically to stop the movement and restore the electromagnetic and hydraulic means to their starting condition.

The rising of the table 1 is caused to operate means for turning the glue roller 10. This roller is attached by separable means such as a dog-clutch 37 to a spur gear 38, which is in mesh with gear 39 on the shaft 40 of which is secured a ratchet wheel 41. A lever 42 freely turnable on the shaft 40 carries a spring pressed pawl 43 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 41. The lever 42 is, at its lower end, articulated by a pin 44 to a link 45, the upper end of the latter being articulated by a pin 46 to a bracket 47 below the table 1.

Thus, on the rising of the table 1 the lever 42 and link 45 are displaced, from their'positions as shown in chain dotted lines, in Figure 1A to the position shown in full lines, and in the course of this movement the pawl 43 partly turns the ratchet wheel 41 and causes the roller to turn in the glue bath 11. This turning, being effected during the rising of the table, occurs when there is no wrapping sheet in engagement with the glue roller.

The top pressure plate 36 above referred to extends rearwardly over the positions C and D (Fig. 1B) of the parcels, and is urged down upon the tops of these parcels to maintain pressure on the glued-together portions of the wrapping sheet, by spring means (not shown). The front edge of the plate 36 is mounted on a transverse bar 48 which in turn is mounted on suitable supports, secured to the side members 2 of the machine, by means of vertical rods in small channel section brackets (not shown). The ends of the bar 48 have holes through which said rods pass freely, and springs are mounted on the rods to urge the bar 48 and thus the plate 36, downwardly with a resilient play of the order of 2".

In the progress of the parcel from the first position A to the second position B, the laterally extending portions of the rear wall of the sheet encounter fixed tucking means, which tuck in said portions upon the sides of the parcel as a flap indicated at d (Fig. 1B). these tucking means comprises a stream-lined assembly of upper, lower and inner resilient plates 49, 50 and 51 Each of merging in a pointed nose 5'2 at their forward ends, where they are secured, for example by welding, to one another and to a supporting bar 53, which is mounted on two horizontal rods 54 secured in upright members 55 welded to a base 56, by which they are attached, as by bolting, to the edges of the bed plate 26 and to the side members 2.

Thus, as the parcel moves rearwardly to and beyond the position B, while the nose 52 engages the laterally projecting portion of the rear wall of the wrapping sheet and the inner plate 51 presses this portion resiliently upon the side of the parcel, the upper and lower plates 49 and 50 respectively cooperate with the top pressure plate 36 and the bed plate 26 to form upper and lower flaps e and f projecting horizontally and laterally from the parcel.

When the foregoing succession of movements is repeated, the partly wrapped parcel under consideration is shifted from the position B to a third position C. In the course of such movement, the upper horizontal flap e at each side of the parcel encounters an abutment member shown as a length of tube 57, which serves to fold the flap e downwards, outside the resilient side plate 51, to lie parallel with the side of the parcel. Each tube 57 is downwardly inclined from its front and upper end where it is mounted by a springy blade 58 upon the transverse bar 48. Towards the rear, lower end of the tube 57 are attached a tension spring 59 which urges said end downwardly and another such spring 60 which is anchored to the top pressure plate 36.

The above-described succession of movements again being repeated, the parcel under consideration is moved from the position C to a fourth position D. At this position there is provided on each side of the machine a glue box 61 for applying glue to the upper, potentially inner, side of the lower flap still extending horizontally from the parcel. The glue box 61 is pivotally attached, preferably in a removable manner, to the upper end of a link 62, and is suitably guided for vertical reciprocation. The glue box has a fixed perforated bottom 63 (Figure 2B) and is provided with a slidable perforated plate (not shown) adjustable by suitable means, such as a screw, to regulate the size of the perforations and so control the rate of flow of the glue. Above such slidable plate there is further provided a permeable pad, as of felt (not shown), to assist in controlling the flow of glue.

The link 62 is articulated at its lower end to the shorter arm 64 of a lever mounted on a fixed pivot 65, the other, longer arm 66 of this lever being articulated to the lower end of a link 67 having its upper end pivotally connected by a pin 68 to a bracket 69 below the table 1. Thus, as the table descend and rises, the glue box 61 is caused at the same time to rise and descend. Desirably, resilient means is provided in the lever-linkage so that when the glue box 61 descends upon a parcel flap which is supported by the bed plate 26, any necessary relative displacement of the box 61 relative to the link 62 can occur while pressure is applied to the flap 1.

It will be appreciated that glue is applied to the upper surface of the flap y when the table 1 is rising to its upper limit position as shown in Figure 1A, that is, when there is no movement of the succession of parcels along the horizontal passage.

In the course of another repetition of the described succession of movements, the parcel under consideration is displaced from the position D to a fifth position E. During such displacement each side flap f encounters a fixed plough 70 presenting a twisted, rising surface 71 which raises the flap f and presses its inner, glued side as shown at f upon the outer surface of the folded-down upper flap shown at e, and the tucked and folded side of the parcel is thereby secured.

Thus in the sequence of operations described, the group of articles is completely wrapped and the wrapping is completely sealed, entirely automatically and without any manual operation after the articles are loaded upon a flat wrapping sheet resting on the table 1.

After being displaced by further sequential operations from the position E, the parcels may in succession pass through an extension of the horizontal passage, wherein they are subjected to warmth, for example of lateral resilient pressure plates exposed to the radiation of infra-red lamps, to dry the adhesive and complete the sealing of the parcels.

The modified machine as shown in Figures 3-7, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference numerals as are used above, also comprises a vertically displaceable table I mounted on a stem of or connected with a hydraulic ram (not shown) located substantially on the centre line of a fixed frame having a pair of upper longitudinal side members 2. Forwardly and rearwardly of the table, and at the level of the latter when in its raised position 1', are a bridge plate 106 and cover plate 104, the former mounted on supports 107 from the side members, and the latter similarly mounted in a suitable manner. The plates, which are narrower than the frame, may have at one or each side an upwardly projecting flange, or a web of an angle member, for locating each sheet of wrapping paper, laterally with respect to the table (like the webs 9 of Figures 1A and 2A). The rearward plate 104 may also have at its rear edge a similar flange or web transversely disposed to locate the sheet endwise with respect to the table, although this is not ShOVlHl.

Forwardly again of the forward guide plate is disposed a transverse glue roller 10 in a glue bath 11 at the front of which is a wall 112 that serves as a locating member for the front edge of each wrapping sheet.

A platform 103 suitably supported from the side members and adapted to receive a stack of wrapping sheets is disposed forwardly of said glue roller 10.

There is provided over the rearward cover plate 104 a bridge 73 carrying lugs 74 in which is mounted a spindle 75 having a cranked arm 76 carrying a weight in the form of a transverse, round-section bar 77. Secured to the bar 77 is a horizontal crank arm 78, and the table 1 has secured adjacent one of its rear corners a lug 79 which, when the table is raised to its upper position 1', engages under the arm 78 to lift the bar 77.

When the table is thus raised, a wrapping sheet from the top of a stack on the platform 103 may be passed over the glue roller 10, the bridge plate 106, the table 1 and, under the bar 77, over the cover plate 104, until its front edge falls over and is located by the stop wall 112 so that the underside of the front margin of the sheet lies on-the glue roller 10. The table, covered with the wrapping sheet, can now be loaded.

To facilitate the loading of the table 1, for example with packets of sugar, positioning means may be provided over the table. Such means may consist of members 19-28 as hereinbefore described. Instead of providing separate bridge means 23, 24, however, the members 1922 may be mounted, preferably with means for lateral adjustment, on the bridge 73.

In descending to the level of a bed plate 126 the table 1 brings the group of articles to be wrapped into a first position of its horizontal rearward passage for commencement of the wrapping and delivery from the machine.

In the descent of the articles on the table to the first position, the front margin of the wrapping sheet is brought off the glue roller and the front portion of said sheet is brought over the rear of the forward guide plate 106 to an upright position. At the same time the rear wall of the wrapping sheet is brought to a partly upright position, with its upper portion trailing over the front of the rearward cover plate 104. This cover plate 104 preferably has a rounded forward edge 105, and the bar 77 serves to hold the upper part of the rear wall of the sheet rearwardly directed until the upper part of the (front wall of the sheet has been folded down upon the group of articles.

The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B.

In the course of rearward displacement the upper portion of the rear wall of the wrapping sheet passes successively under the rounded edge 105 of the rear cover plate 104 and a top pressure plate resiliently mounted below said cover plate, so that said upper portion of the rear wall is brought down to a horizontal position with its transverse margin upon the glued transverse margin of the front wall, thus serving to secure said two margins together across the width of the sheet. The top pressure plate 80 preferably has two fore-and-aft slits 93 whereby it is partially divided to afford two wings 94 which are relatively more resilient than the central portion and more curved than said central portion, as shown, for assisting in forming lateral flaps of the wrapping sheet as will be described.

The top pressure plate 80 above referred to and a prolongation 81 thereof extend rearwardly over the third position C and fourth position D of the parcels, and said prolongation 81 is urged down upon the tops of these parcels to maintain pressure on the glued-together portions of the wrapping sheet, by spring means. For example, a rearward extension 82 of the rear guide plate may present two downwardly directed sockets 83 in which are housed compression coil springs 84 hearing on the prolongation 81.

Each of fixed side tucking means 85 comprises as shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6 a partly streamlined assembly of an upper, upwardly curved plate 86, a lower, downwardly convex plate 87, and a vertical, inwardly convex plate 88, the inner edges of the plates 86 and 87 being joined respectively to the upper and lower edges of the plate 88. All three plates are secured at their forward edges to an inner transverse vertical web 89 of a double angle-section bracket 90, the outer transverse web 91 being secured to the bed plate 126 by an L- foot 92. The setting back of the transverse webs 89 of the brackets is to accommodate a member as will hereinafter be described. A further member (not shown) may evidently be provided if desired at or towards the rear of each tucking member for additional support thereof.

The fixed tucking means 85 engage the laterally projecting portions of the rear walls of the wrapping sheet and the inner plates 88 thereof press these portions resiliently upon the sides of the parcel, the upperand lower plates 86 and 87 of said tucking means respectively cooperating with wing members 94 on the top pressure plate 80 and with the bed plate 126 to form upper and lower flaps e and f projecting horizontally and laterally from the parcel.

When the partly wrapped parcel under consideration is shifted from the second position B to a third position C, the upper horizontal flap at each side of the parcel encounters a progressively deepening, downwardly extending flange 95 on the top pressure plate 80, which serves at least to initiate folding the flap downwards to lie parallel with the side of the parcel in the position 2'.

To the rear of the vertical plane separating the second position B and third positions C, there is disposed on each side of the machine a gluing drum 96 having a trapezoidal glue-applying pad 97, for example of rubber, shaped as shown in development in Figure 4 to correspond with the shape of the lower, laterally extending flap on the parcel. Said pad bears on a glue transferring drum 98 which clips into a glue bath 99 mounted on the bed plate 126. Spindles 100 and 101 of said two drums are connected for joint rotation by intermeshing gear wheels 108, 109 and on the spindle 100 of the gluing drum is secured a ratchet wheel 102 side by side with a loosely mounted gear wheel 110 which is in mesh with a rack 111, while a pawl 113 engaging the ratchet wheel 102 is pivotally mounted on said loose gear wheel 110. The rack 111 is mounted on a bar 114 slidable parallel to the frame side member 2 in guide brackets 115, and is connected through lost motion means to an arm 116 extending laterally from the fixed plate 28 of the horizontal ram 27. Such lost motion means may comprise a rod 117 parallel to the ram, and suitably connected to the front end of the rack bar 114, for example by a member 118, said rod having an adjustable collar 119 or other stop adapted to be engaged by the arm 116, and another collar 120 on its free'end; the adjustment enables displacement of the rack to be timed so that rotation of the pad 97 on the gluing drum 96 is effected synchronously with the passage below it of the lower flap f of a parcel moving from the second position B to the third position C.

Each of the pair of members 118 is shown as of inverted U-form, with an inner rising arm 121, which on the rearward stroke of the ram enters the recess formed by the double-angle bracket 90 of the adjacent fixed tucking member 85, a horizontal portion 122 which extends with clearance over the bracket 90, and an outer, vertical arm 123 which terminates in a foot 124 to which the rack bar 114 is rigidly connected. Evidently, by a suitable re-arrangement of these parts it is within the scope of one skilled in the art to substitute, for the member 118 and the bracket 90, more simply formed members.

For the application by the means described of glue to the lower flaps f of each parcel in turn, as the parcel is pushed rearwardly from the second position B to the third position C, the arms 116 on. the ram plate 28 engage the adjusted collars 119 and, at the proper time, through the members 118 push the bars 114 and racks 111 rearwardly. The racks then rotate the gears 110 anticlockwise as seen in Figure 3 and through the pawls 113 also rotate the spindles 100, gears 108 and glue-applying drums 96 anti-clockwise, while through the gears 109 the glue transfer rollers 98 are rotated clockwise to transfer glue from the bath 99 to the pad 97. The angular displacement of said pads is synchronised with the linear displacement of the flaps 7 so that the glue is accurately transferred to and over the outer margins of said flaps.

When the ram 27 effects its forward or return stroke the arms 116 first move with respect to the rods 117, until they engage the collars 120 (so that the members 118 are not displaced forwardly so far as to engage the link or pair of links 45) and the arms 116 then displace the rods 117, the members 118, the rack bars 114 and racks 111 forwardly. During this movement, the gear wheels 110 are rotated clockwise as seen in Figure 3, so that the pawls 113 ride idly over the ratchet wheels 102, and the drums 96, 98 are not turned. Thus, there is no displacement or spattering of glue while the parcels are stationary.

Rearwardly of each gluing drum 96 there is mounted on the bed plate 126 a fixed lug or plough 125 which begins the lifting of the glued lower flap f. Substantially above this lug or plough 125' there is mounted on a preferably adjustable bracket 127 extending laterally from the top pressure plate 81 an inwardly directed arm or plough 128 which assists the flange 95 on said pressure plate to fold down the top flap e of the parcel until it is in contact with the side of the parcel.

When, after a succeeding operative movement of the ram 27, the parcel is displaced to the fourth position D, it is subjected to means for completing the raising of the glued lower flaps f" and pressing these upon the outer surfaces of the turned down upper flaps e" to eflect adherence of the flaps at the sides of the parcel. These means are timed to operate while the parcel is stationary, that is, during the forward or return stroke of the horizontal ram 27, the rising and reloading of the table 1, and the subsequent descent of the table.

The aforesaid means may comprise a pair of plates 129 mounted ona rearward extension of the bed plate I0 126 by hinges 130 having axes parallel to the side rails and in or adjacent the plane of the bed plate. Below each of them is disposed a vertical hydraulic ram 131, having the crosshead 132 of its piston rod 133 connected by a link 134 to a lug 135 on the under or outer side of the pivoted plate 129. Disposed adjacent the free edge of the plate there may be an adjustable stop, such as a screw-threaded member 136 displaceable perpendicularly to the plane of the plate in a lug 137 projecting outwardly from the plate 129. Such stop member is adapted to engage the here relatively deep depending flange 138 at the side of the top pressure plate 81 to determine the upper limit position of the pivoted plate 129 relative to the end of the parcel, i. e., to prevent crushing of the parcel, under the action of the hydraulic rams 131. Desirably to resist outward reaction when the plates 129 are raised and the operating links 134 are downwardly and outwardly inclined from them to the crossheads 132, the latter are connected by a tie member 139 for maintaining the crossheads in the centre lines of the rams.

It will be seen that the embodiment described with reference to Figures 37 completes the wrapping of a parcel in four stages, as compared with five stages in the embodiment of Figures 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B.

The operation of the rams may be effected automaticalassociated hydraulic valves.

It will be evident to those skilled in the electrical art that various electro-hydraulic control arrangements may be devised for enabling the automatic operation, cycle by cycle, of wrapping means according to the invention.

One such electrical circuit, which is shown diagrammatically by wayiof example in Figure 8, enables one cycle of operations of either of the foregoing embodiments to be performed automatically with full interlocking to ensure that the several operations are effected in proper sequence.

In Figure 8, each of the double-acting cylinders 140 of the horizontal ram 27, cylinder 141 of the ram for vertically displacing the table 1, and 131, of the side flap pressing means, is shown provided with a single, four-way valve, 142, 143 and 144, respectively. sociated with these valves are electro magnetic means 145, 146, 147, respectively, each of which when energised serves to turn the associated valve so that one end ofthe cylinder is comiected to a source of hydraulic pressure fluid and the other end is connected to exhaust, and when de-energized turns the valve so that said one end is connected to exhaust and said other end is connected to the pressure fluid source.

One contact of a switch 148 arranged to be closed when the ram 27 is in its inoperative or rest position is connected through a lead 149 and a manually operable switch, such as a push button switch 150, to one side of an electrical power source, indicated as a battery 151, the other side of which is grounded through a lead 152.

The other contact of the switch 148 is connected through -a lead 153 and a switch 154, arranged to be closed when the table 1 is in its upper position, to one side'of an electromagnet 155, the other side of which is grounded through a lead 156. The electromagnet 155 when energized serves to open a switch 157 one contact of which is connected to the battery by a lead 158, while the other contact is connected to an electromagnet 159 (also grounded by the lead 156) and to one contact of a switch 160, normally open when the electromagnet 159 is de-energized, the switch 160 being in parallel with the push-button switch 150.

Also connected to the lead 153 from switch 148 are two switches 161 mounted on the table 1 so as to be closed when the table is loaded, these switches being in series and having extending from them a lead 162which goes to an electromagnet 163 grounded by a lead 164.

11 A branch lead 165 from the like 149 also goes to the electromagnet 163 through two switches in series, namely a switch 166 arranged to be closed by the electromagnet 163 itself when energised and a switch 167 arranged to be closed when another delay-action electromagnet 168 is not energised. The electromagnet 163 when energised also closes a switch 169 in a lead from the branch 165 to the electromagnet 146, which is grounded by a lead 170.

Considering now the state of the circuit when the table 1 in its upper position is loaded so as to close the switches 161, it will be seen that a brief closure of the push-button switch 150 will cause the relay 146, energised through branch 165 and closed switch 169, to operate the valve 143 so that the table 1 descends. As soon as the descent commences, switch 154 opens and de-energises the relay 155 so that switch 159 closes thereby energising relay 159 to close switch 160 and by-pass the push-button switch 150, which may then be released.

When the table 1 reaches its lower position, it closes a switch 171 the purpose of which will be described later and also closes a switch 172 which is connected to the branch 165 and through a normally closed switch 173 in a lead 174 energises the electromagnet 145 to operate the valve 142 so as to cause the ram 27 to move to the right. As soon as such movement commences the switch 148 opens so that although the movement of the ram 27 sweeps the load off the table 1 and allows the switches 161 to open, the closure of switch 171 is rapidly followed by opening of switch 148 and delay-action relay 168 does not operate to open switch 167 and the consequent de-energization of relayy163 (which would allow switch 169 to open and thus de-energise relay 146) does not occur.

When the ram 27 reaches the limit of its right-ward stroke, it closes a switch 175, one contact of which is connected by a lead 176 to the line 149 while its other contact is connected by a lead 177 to an electromagnet 178 grounded by a lead 179. This electromagnet closes a switch 180 to hold itself energised so long as switch 172 is closed (that is, so long as table 1 is down) and opens switch 173 to deenergised relay 145, which thereby reverses valve 142 to cause the ram 27 to move to the left, whereby switch 175 is allowed to open again.

When the control scheme is applied to an embodiment having hydraulic side pressing means, as described, with reference to Figures 3-7 above, the switch 175 during its period of closure also energises, through a branch 181 from the lead 1'77, an electromagnet 182, which closes a switch 183 to hold itself energised through a lead 185 from switch 157 so long as that switch is closed, and also closes a switch 184 whereby from the same lead 185 the relays 147 are energised to operate the valves 144 to cause the rams 131 to raise the flap folding plates 129 (Figures 3 and 7).

On completion of the movement of the ram 27 to the left, it again closes the switch 148. Since switch 171 is still closed, the circuit to relay 168 is completed and held closed, so that swicth 167 is opened and de-energises relay 163 (switches 161 also being open). The switch 169 is thus opened, deenergising relay 146, which operates the valve 143 so that ram 141 causes the table to rise.

Thereafter the switches 171 and 172 open. Switch 171 opens the circuit of relay 168, and switch 167 closes, but relay 163 is not energised because switches 161 and switch 166 are all open. The opening of switch 172 breaks at this point the circuit to relay 145 (already open at switch 173) but also de-energises relay 178 to enable switches 173 and 180 to resume their initial respective closed and open states.

When the table 1 reaches its upper limit position it closes switch 154. Switch 148 being already closed, the relay 155 opens switch 157, de-energising relay 159 to allow switch to open cutting out the entire circuit. If there are relays 147 of vertical rams 131 also in the circuit, the opening of switch 157 also de-energises relay 182, allowing switches 183 and 184 to open and thus reset this part of the circuit.

The cycle is thus complete.

A machine according to the invention, and/ or more particularly as described in either of the foregoing embodiments, enables the whole operation of wrapping and sealing of parcels in quick succession to be effected automatically, and moreover controlled by one of the operators employed for loading the articles on to wrapping sheets on the table. For example, it will have been seen that the control may be effected by actuation of a single push-button or lever switch in an electromagnetic circuit as herein last described, the remaining sequence of 1 electrical control operations being automatic and terminating in automatic de-energisation of said circuit.

Evidently, modifications may be made in the construction and mechanical details of the machine and its components within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A package wrapping machine comprising a table vertically displaceable between an upper position and a lower position and adapted to receive a wrapping sheet and a group of articles loaded manually on said sheet when in its upper position, means for displacing said table vertically between said upper and lower positions, means serving automatically when the table is lowered and responsive thereto to raise front and rear walls of the wrapper about the articles to form a partially wrapped package, a rearwardly extending bed plate level with the table when the table is in its lower position, horizontal ram means intermittently operable for displacing successive packages rearwardly off the table in said lower position on to said bed plate, means associated with the ram and actuatable automatically therewith to fold the upper margin of the front wall of the wrapper over the top of the group of articles and to tuck in side portions of said front wall against the sides of the group of articles while the ram is displacing the thus partly wrapped package rearwardly, automatic wrapper folding, tucking and sealing means successively arranged horizontally in relation to the bed plate, means for operating said folding, tucking and sealing means sequentially, a glue roller disposed in adjacent relation to the upper position of the displaceable table to engage and support the underside of the transverse margin of the front wall of a wrapping sheet laid on the table, and to apply glue to said margin and means, actuated through movement of the table, for rotating the glue roller for gluing said wrapping sheet margin.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which a glue bath is provided wherein said glue roller is located, and in which the means for rotating said glue roller is intermittently actuated by the table as it rises from its lower to its upper position.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said intermittently actuated means includes a glue roller driving shaft, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl disposed to engage said wheel, and lever-linkage means connected with said pawl and the table and operable to turn said ratchet wheel during rising of the table.

4. A machine according to claim 1, including in combination a transverse pivoted plate for turning over the glued upper part of the front wall of a wrapping sheet upon the group of articles, and means operable to turn said plate operatively as the table descends and to restore the plate to its initial position as the table rises.

5. A machine according to claim 4, including in combination a spindle with which the transverse pivoted plate is turnable, a lever secured to said spindle, and a link connecting the free end of said lever with the table.

6. A machine according to claim 1, comprising means disposed at each side in relation to a position of the partly a pawl on said gear wheel engaging said ratchet wheel,

and a slidably supported rack in mesh with said gear wheel and extending, parallel with the path of the packages, along each side of the machine, said rack being displaceable with the horizontal ram.

7. A machine according to claim 6, having in combination a trapezoidal glue-applying pad secured to each of the glue drums, said pad being shaped to correspond with the lower flaps projecting from the packages, and

means for timing displacement of the racks so that the pads are rotated in coincidence with the passing flaps in order to apply the glue accurately thereto.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said timing means comprises a pair of rods parallel with the racks, an adjustable collar on each of said rods, and a member slidable upon each of said rods and displaceable with the horizontal ram for displacing each of said racks.

9. A machine according to claim 6, comprising in combination a glue bath at each side of the machine, a spindle mounted in each bath, a glue transfer roller on each spindle and rotatable in each glue bath, and a gear train connecting said spindle with said gear wheel, the surface of said roller engaging the surface of the glue drum for transferring glue thereto.

10. A machine according to claim 1, including in combination a glue box at each side of the machine, a perforated bottom in each glue box for the application of glue to the upper surface of the lower horizontal flap projecting from each package, and means for moving said box downwards into engagement with the flap and upwards again during a period when the package is stationary.

11. A machine according to claim 10, comprising in combination lever means operable by the movement of the table, and links connecting said lever means to said glue boxes, so that the boxes are depressed as the table rises, and lifted when the table descends.

12. A machine according to claim 1, having hinged plates provided opposite the sides of one position of a package, and means automatically actuable to raise said plates about pivotal axes parallel and adjacent to the lower lateral edges of the package during the period in each cycle when the intermittently advancing series of packages is stationary, to lift the lower flaps of each package and to apply pressure to the outer surfaces of said flaps upon opposite sides of the completely wrapped package.

' 13. A machine according to claim 12, having in combination a pair of hydraulic rams disposed at opposite sides of the machine, piston rods of said rams upwardly displaceable by hydraulic pressure, and links connecting said rods to the under and outer sides of said hinged plates.

14. A machine according to claim 1, having in combination a mass pivotally mounted to bear frictionally upon the upper part of the rear wall of each wrapping sheet as the table descends, and means connected with the table for lifting said mass when the table rises for the passage under said mass of a wrapping sheet to be laid upon the table.

15. A machine according to claim 1, having in combination a platform, adapted to receive a stack of wrapping sheets thereon, located over at least the means for rear wall folding and rear side tucking.

16. A machine according to claim 1, having a combination a platform, adapted to receive a stack of wrapping sheets thereon, located over means for operating the horizontal ram.

17. A package wrapping machine comprising in combination a table vertically displaceable from one to the other of an upper position and a lower position and adapted to receive a wrapping sheet and support a group of articles loaded manually side by side each with its bottom surface on said sheet when said table is in its upper position, means for displacing said table vertically between said upper and lower positions means serving automatically when the table is lowered to raise front and rear walls of the wrapper about the group of articles to form a partially wrapped package, a rearwardly extending bed plate level with the table when the table is in its lower position, horizontal ram means operable for displacing successive packages rearwardly off the table when in said lower position on to said bed plate, means associated with the ram and actuable automatically therewith to fold the upper margin of the front wall of the wrapper over the top of the group of articles, means associated with the ram and turnable automatically to tuck in side portions of said raised wrapper front wall against the sidesof the group of articles prior to the ram displacing the partly wrapped package rearwardly, and automatic means successively arranged horizontally in relation to the bed plate for folding, tucking and sealing said wrapper.

18. A package wrapping machine according to claim 17, having in combination with said horizontal ram means two transverse members spaced apart horizontally, a vertical pivot at each side of one of said members, and a turnable side tucking member mounted on each of said pivots, said tucking members being automatically turned to tuck in side portions of said front wall of the wrapper prior to the commencement of displacement of the package by said ram means.

19. A package wrapping machine according to claim 17, having in combination with said horizontal ram means a transverse member, a transverse pusher plate,

mounted slidably in the axial direction of the ram means with respect to said transverse member, a vertical pivot at each side of said plate, a turnable side tucking member mounted on each of said pivots, resilient means urging said transverse member and said plate apart, and an abutment at each side of said transverse member, so that when said plate in the movement of the ram first engages a partly wrapped package movement of the plate is initially retarded by the package and said plate approaches said transverse member against the action of said resilient means whereby said abutments serve automatically to turn said tucking members inwardly to tuck in side portions of said front wall of the wrapper prior to commencement of displacement of the package by said plate.

20. A package wrapping machine according to claim 17, having electro-hydraulic means for effecting automatically one complete cycle of operations, and interlocking means for ensuring the successive performance of the several steps of the cycle, said interlocking means including at least two mutually spaced switches mounted on the table to be closed by the outermost articles of a group of articles when placed thereon, said switches being connected in series in circuit with electromagnetic means controlling the vertical displacement of the table and when either is open preventing operation of said electromagnetic means to cause descent of the table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,410 Merrell May 20, 1913 1,814,166 Kux July 14, 1931 1,851,457 Smith Mar. 29, 1932 1,915,499 Langhammer June 27, 1933 2,640,305 Genco June 2, 1953 2,675,657 Taggaxt Apr. 20, 1954 

